Adrian Volenik
Empaths are like emotional detectives. They can look at a person, the way they talk, move and behave in general, and from these clues, they can figure out what’s bubbling under the surface.
But what exactly can they notice about others? Well, that’s what you’re about to find out.
Let’s dive in!
1) Body language
Most of us see the more obvious cues in people’s body language that tell us, even without words, when a person is happy, sad, angry, etc.
But empaths go further. They recognize even the most nuanced signs of depression and pain.
But they also notice signs of love and affection, like half a second too long eye contact with someone.
Then there’s this:
2) Positive qualities
Empaths often focus on and appreciate the positive qualities of people they interact with.
As I already said, they don’t just see the surface of a person. On the contrary, they dig deeper to uncover the admirable qualities and strengths that you might hide.
They can find the kindness in a seemingly grim or intimidating coworker or the courage in someone who appears shy.
But they also notice the following.
3) Sincerity
Empaths are great at detecting sincerity in your words and actions. It’s like they have a built-in lie detector.
It’s not that they’re suspicious of everyone because that’s not a good way to live life. But they have an astounding ability to pick up on subtle cues that suggest whether someone is being truthful or not.
It could be a small hesitation in their speech, or a shift in their body language that signals something isn’t quite right.
Whatever it is, they’ll know whether you’re sincere with them and others or not.
4) Energy drain
Some people are incredibly emotionally draining to be around. They’re oftentimes called emotional vampires. And empaths are particularly sensitive to their behavior.
They can sense when someone’s taking more emotional energy from them than they’re giving.
Imagine being around someone who constantly complains, criticizes, or drains your positivity.
Empaths notice this quickly and step back or set boundaries to protect their own emotional well-being.
Learn something from them. Distance yourself from emotional vampires and toxic friends and see how easier it is to live.
5) Fears and insecurities
Empaths are also good at perceiving the fears and insecurities that others have. This enables them to offer support and understanding to help people overcome these challenges.
They can spot when someone is susceptible to criticism or feedback. They provide constructive criticism with great care and consideration, minimizing emotional harm and promoting growth.
When they talk to someone, they reflect back on the fears and insecurities that person is experiencing, even if those fears are hidden deep inside.
This allows them to approach you with empathy and offer a comforting company.
For example, let’s say you’re at work, and there’s a colleague who’s very shy and hesitant to speak up in meetings.
If you’re an empath, you’d sense their insecurity. You might say, “Hey, Alex, I noticed you have some great ideas. Don’t be afraid to share them. We’re all here to learn from each other.”
6) Emotional blocks
Most of us have some emotional blocks or barriers that prevent us from fully expressing ourselves.
Many empaths can pick up on that and use this awareness to help others in their emotional growth.
In short, they can spot the emotional walls people build around themselves. Whether fear of vulnerability or past emotional wounds, empaths can often see these barriers and gently work to help break them down and grow emotionally.
Let’s expand a bit more on this.
7) Past trauma
So, I already mentioned they can pick up on past traumas or emotional wounds that others carry with them.
This can help them understand why someone behaves in a certain way or has specific triggers.
Imagine you meet someone named Emily, and as you get to know her, you notice that she becomes very anxious whenever she hears loud noises, like fireworks.
Because you’re an empath, your heightened sensitivity allows you to pick up on her emotional reactions.
Without her saying a word, you sense that there’s more to her fear of loud noises than meets the eye.
There’s one more quite unusual thing some say they can sense:
8) Vibes or auras
Some empaths have a superpower – they claim to see or feel an energy field around people, often called an aura.
This aura can have different colors and patterns, and empaths believe it gives them insights into your emotional state and energy level.
I find this incredibly fascinating (if true).
9) Unspoken needs
Empaths are skilled at picking up on unspoken needs or desires that someone has. They can intuitively understand what you require, even if you haven’t explicitly expressed it.
For instance, if a friend is feeling down but hasn’t said a word, an empath might bring over their favorite comfort food or offer a listening ear just when they need it the most.
Can you imagine a world filled with empaths? It would be so much different. Companies would actually sell products that help people and not ones that harm them.
Politicians would work to make people’s lives better and not to line their own pockets.
10) Motivations
We all have different motivations for doing the things we do. Some people are motivated by what’s inside them, their own personal desires and values.
Others are motivated by external factors, such as rewards, recognition, or avoiding punishment.
Empaths have a talent for understanding what motivates people. They often identify what drives your actions. Is it ambition, fear, love, or a desire for connection?
Say you spend your weekends volunteering at a local animal shelter. It’s clear your motivation comes from within because you deeply care about animals and find huge personal fulfillment in helping them.
You don’t need rewards or recognition because you’re driven by your genuine love for animals.
Now imagine you have a colleague, John, who works extra hours to earn a year-end bonus. He’s motivated by external factors like financial rewards and recognition from his boss.
He’s not particularly passionate about the work itself, but the promise of a bonus pushes him to put in the effort.
Both of you are reasonable, right? Heck, you can do both (volunteer and work hard for bonuses) and be motivated from within and by outside factors, which most people are.
And lastly:
11) Hidden talents
Empaths can sometimes detect hidden talents or potential in others that they themselves aren’t even aware of.
With this info, they can inspire and motivate them to explore new avenues in their lives.
They’re like career advisors but actually useful.
My wife has always been passionate about painting but has never pursued it seriously. Until her friend, who is an empath, noticed that her paintings were quite intricate and artistic.
She suggested that my wife should try painting or drawing as a serious hobby. With her (and my) encouragement, my wife discovered a hidden talent for creating stunning artwork.
Eventually, she started showcasing her art at local galleries.
Needless to say, empaths use their observation and intuition to detect hidden talents in others.
They can then provide encouragement, support, and inspire people to explore and nurture these talents, ultimately helping them start new and fulfilling journeys in their lives.
Final thoughts
As you can see, empaths can be pretty impressive in what they can notice about others and, if they’re willing, help put a spotlight on talents, emotions, qualities, and even past trauma.
